Saadani National Park is a unique paradise and the only place in East Africa where wilderness meets the beach and the Indian Ocean, giving you not only the opportunity to dive into the water right after your safari, but also to be immersed in a unique spectacle of marine and continental flora and fauna in a fascinating setting. It is the perfect place to combine the pleasures of safari with those of a beach holiday!
Located between Dar es Salaam and Tanga, Saadani is a small park (1,100 km²). Often forgotten by travellers, it offers a variety of breath-taking landscapes with an enchanting mix of beach, savannah, mangrove and river, not to mention the coral reef. It is the variety of different ecosystems that makes Saadani an exceptional site and differentiates it from other wildlife parks in Tanzania.
Saadani is not the reserve where you will see the most animals because of its dense vegetation, however, it is one of the best parks to photograph them in a truly unusual environment!
Saadani’s wildlife includes four of the Big Five predators, although it is very difficult to spot them as they are few in number. You will find a population of Maasai giraffes as well as bush elephants and African lions and leopards, although the latter are a bit shyer.
You may also encounter Lichtenstein’s hartebeests, waterbucks and reedbucks, blue wildebeest, duikers, dik-diks, yellow baboons, vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys, blue syke monkeys, and white-bearded emperor monkeys. Other animals that call Saadani their home are mongooses, genets, porcupines, kudu, eland, sable antelope, warthogs, spotted hyenas and black-backed jackals.
Other interesting excursions in the Saadani Game Reserve are walking safaris accompanied by an armed ranger, as well as boat safaris on the mangrove-lined Wami River. Here you might see hippos and crocodiles, as well as kingfishers and flamingos. The beaches also form one of the last major breeding grounds for green turtles in mainland Tanzania.
Off the coast of the national park is a sandbar that can be visited by boat for swimming and snorkelling.
Staying at Saadani for a few days is definitely a fascinating experience, whether it’s to relax by the sea or to explore the savannah and other points of interest around the reserve!
Best time to visit Saadani National Park
Although Saadani remains attractive all year round, the dry season, between June and February, is the best time to go. July and February are the driest months with maximum temperatures reaching 29C.
Top highlights
- The only wildlife reserve located on Tanzania’s coastline offering unique scenery.
- Best park to visit when combining safari and a relaxing beach holiday.
- Abundant wildlife after the rains.
- Numerous reptiles and birds species.
- Possibility for 4X4 game drives as well as boat safaris where you can spot turtles, humpback whales and dolphins.
